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UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Wickerman on August 25, 2009, 09:05:56 am

Title: Standing on ledges
Post by: Wickerman on August 25, 2009, 09:05:56 am
What are the legalities of standing on window ledges. I have just picked up a customer yesterday with a three story building. three flats all with high sash windows. The bottom window opens inward but the top window will only slide up or down. Am I in wrong to be standing out on the ledge? I work on my own.
Title: Re: Standing on ledges
Post by: GWCS on August 25, 2009, 09:11:58 am
working at height regulations 2005

interesting reading..


then again if you not bothered do what you like..  Natural selection and all that.
Title: Re: Standing on ledges
Post by: Wickerman on August 25, 2009, 09:15:00 am
I am interested and I am trying to do everything correctly. I am just not sure of regs hence the question. If I am in the wrong then I will have to tell the customer.
Title: Re: Standing on ledges
Post by: stephen s on August 25, 2009, 09:15:29 am
where abouts are you ?      just so I can come and canvass that area when you fall off.

does that answer your question ?
Title: Re: Standing on ledges
Post by: Wickerman on August 25, 2009, 09:20:40 am
yes it does. Could you be any more condescending please.
Title: Re: Standing on ledges
Post by: stephen s on August 25, 2009, 09:28:05 am
Just being truthful mate,  you know you shouldn't be standing on ledges of that height as it only takes one slip, one mistake and its bye bye Johnny.

No job is worth your life mate so don't do it,  and thats the best advice anyone can give,       as the saying goes  up there for thinking  down there for dancing.

Johnny be good
Title: Re: Standing on ledges
Post by: Niall McAllister on August 25, 2009, 09:29:18 am
I don't think it's entirely condescending.
your basic question is should I stand on a 10 inch ledge with no support, 30 ft off the ground?

best advise is slide the window down do the top half, then slide it back up and do the bottom half.
it will take longer so price accordingly,
or option 2  wfp and goose neck if that is available
Title: Re: Standing on ledges
Post by: Wickerman on August 25, 2009, 09:36:17 am
 :) Sorry Steven,  I take that back. I just read it the wrong way. I am like everyone else, I want to do a good job and I want to do it right. WFP not an option (yet)
Title: Re: Standing on ledges
Post by: Gleaming windows on August 25, 2009, 09:40:32 am
Have you got family?
Title: Re: Standing on ledges
Post by: GWCS on August 25, 2009, 09:52:09 am
:) Sorry Steven,  I take that back. I just read it the wrong way. I am like everyone else, I want to do a good job and I want to do it right. WFP not an option (yet)

Johnny - To be fair it still the practise still happens these day, but when i was learning the trade it was common practise.

Putting the ladder up to second floor, climb on and around the foot wide large concrete ledges, around the large brick bay supports holding on by fingertips under the top sash for support. Cleaning one handed whilst the other held on..

But i don't recommend it..

Be safe.. Be happy.

Title: Re: Standing on ledges
Post by: cybersye on August 25, 2009, 10:03:20 am


best advise is slide the window down do the top half, then slide it back up and do the bottom half.
it will take longer so price accordingly,

this is the best way, i am wfp but I have several flats where there is no access for back windows so I do them traditionally that way. be safe, and if you cant then dont do it, theres plenty of easier windows needing to be cleaned.
Title: Re: Standing on ledges
Post by: Glyn H on August 25, 2009, 10:07:43 am
Johnny
No you realy shouldnt stand on a ledge why not subcontract the high work to a local window cleaner with wfp.
Title: Re: Standing on ledges
Post by: Ravensford on August 25, 2009, 10:29:29 am
Johnny,

safest & cheapest way might be to buy a cheap second hand back pack, pole & brush &, just before the windows are due, buy some pure water in containers from a local w/c then trad the rest. Alternatively, as has been mentioned before, sub out all or part of the work.

Hope this helps
Title: Re: Standing on ledges
Post by: gerard mcmanus on August 25, 2009, 10:36:05 am
can you not just turn the top ones in and do it from the inside?
Title: Re: Standing on ledges
Post by: tomy jackson on August 25, 2009, 12:27:11 pm
lanyard with proper atachmentes in the brick work ,donky spings to mined ??????????????????/.but its your life go for it ,
Title: Re: Standing on ledges
Post by: jonnyald on August 25, 2009, 03:28:01 pm
cant you tie a rope round your waist ? and tie the other end on the leg of the bed , so if you slip you wont fall  the whole way
Title: Re: Standing on ledges
Post by: daveappleby on August 25, 2009, 08:41:11 pm
MAD MAD MAD......... ;)
Title: Re: Standing on ledges
Post by: Ian Lancaster on August 26, 2009, 02:38:35 pm
Regardless of whether it's legal or not, you have no control over the safety aspect.  If you are using a ladder, you can control how it's set/footed etc and so ensure the safety.  Standing on a ledge that someone else has built is putting your faith in an unknown situation.

How do I know?  In 1977 I stood on an upstairs window sill and it collapsed under me. Unknown to me it had been broken previously, and the cowboy who repaired it just rebuilt it with cement, so any weight (even a flower pot) would have been enough to cause it to break again.

I fell 18 feet and broke both heel bones and both ankle joints.  I still have deformed feet and walk with a bad limp.

At least I'm still alive, and ever since I have taken my personal safety very seriously.
Title: Re: Standing on ledges
Post by: tomy jackson on August 26, 2009, 03:46:08 pm
from in side or out you has to have a lanrard a tached to the bilding l,so if he falls itl be moor work for us ,if your daft enuf dont let us stop you
Title: Re: Standing on ledges
Post by: Gleaming windows on August 26, 2009, 03:54:43 pm
if your daft enuf dont let us stop you

 ;D ;D fantastic.
Title: Re: Standing on ledges
Post by: Gordon_Taylor on August 26, 2009, 05:12:00 pm
Right before we start bashing each other about wfp and trad, if I'm right you said that the bottom window opens inwards and the top window comes down. so this would mean that the windows might be pvc, if that is the case you may find that if you pull the top window down there might be clips on top of the window that might enable you to tilt the window backwards. just a thought alot of the modern pvc sash windows come like this so you can clean them.

Gordon
Title: Re: Standing on ledges
Post by: mark dew on August 26, 2009, 06:31:52 pm
How much are those windows worth? £1. £1.50 each?

I realised after falling off my ladder from the 2nd rung (honestly), that even a twisted ankle is at least the rest of the day off. How much money can be earnt in that time?
It's not even worth risking injury for a window here and there. Never mind risking your life.
Don't risk it for peanuts.
Title: Re: Standing on ledges
Post by: karlosdaze on August 27, 2009, 01:01:06 am
Is Cleaning a Window Worth Your Life? http://budurl.com/q3nn
Title: Re: Standing on ledges
Post by: tomy jackson on August 27, 2009, 07:07:15 am
it still neads lanrad no mater if you can open top bit
Title: Re: Standing on ledges
Post by: sparklebright on August 28, 2009, 07:39:38 pm
Isn't there a website called the darwin awards?
Title: Re: Standing on ledges
Post by: tomy jackson on August 28, 2009, 09:50:55 pm
il bet even after seeing that lot he sill dus em  ??? ??? ??? ???
Title: Re: Standing on ledges
Post by: Wickerman on September 03, 2009, 10:56:26 am
Point made guys!!! Am looking into a backpack just now. I guess that like everything in life, go with your gut instinct. Thanks
Title: Re: Standing on ledges
Post by: dazmond on September 03, 2009, 11:22:01 am
or buy a 30foot unger 5 section TRAD pole and angle adapter and vise versa and fixi clamp for the detailing if u dont want to go down WFP route.if its only for the odd difficult accounts.dont risk it matey.all TRAD one man bands should have a few TRAD poles and swivel squeegys etc IMO as well as ladder mitts and stopper.piece of mind and safer
Title: Re: Standing on ledges
Post by: tomy jackson on September 03, 2009, 12:04:32 pm
thats abuger we not going to get his work when he falls  ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Standing on ledges
Post by: matt on September 03, 2009, 12:07:52 pm
Point made guys!!! Am looking into a backpack just now. I guess that like everything in life, go with your gut instinct. Thanks

exactly, if you felt it was ok / safe, you would not have asked the question

deep down you knew the answer, just wanted / needed some1 to point it out

when i started i used a " hand pumped backpack , 20 quid worth " for some  high stuff ( 2nd floor ) i did this specific job like that 2 or 3 times i forget now, it worked ok till i build the trolley system, ok now the battery backpacks are 100 quid, it wouldnt be so much of a issue, but if you dont have that 100 quid yet, a handpumped backpack sprayer works ( 20 quid ) and will enable you to do this job safely
Title: Re: Standing on ledges
Post by: Wickerman on September 03, 2009, 05:20:13 pm
thats abuger we not going to get his work when he falls  ;D ;D ;D ;D

Tomy, I'll let you know if I fall and kill myself. ;)